Ethiopia bans weapons at upcoming religious gathering

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Ethiopia has banned weapons at the upcoming Irrecha religious festival in order to avoid the violence that killed several dozen people last year. The statement from the restive Oromia region comes ahead of the October 1 thanksgiving gathering.

“The security situation in the region has improved immensely compared to last year so armed personnel will not be allowed to be at the center of the festival,” Lomi Beo, head of the Oromia Culture and Tourism Office, told the Associated Press on Sunday. “Armed police will be confined to the outskirts of the festival site as per the request of the religious leaders. We don’t expect last year’s tragedy to happen again.”

Up to 1.5 million people are expected to participate in this year’s celebration in the town of Bishoftu, 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the capital Addis Ababa, she said.

Last year security forces at the Irrecha gathering dispersed anti-government protesters with tear gas and gunfire, triggering a deadly stampede that officials said killed at least 50 people. Activists said the death toll was much higher.

Subsequent large-scale anti-government demonstrations across the Oromia region claimed more lives, caused the destruction of several local and foreign-owned companies and led to the declaration of a statement of emergency that lasted for 10 months.

“We are already witnessing signs of tensions as the day of the celebration draws closer,” said Nimona Nigash, a resident of Bishoftu town. “People are told to avoid displaying anti-government signs and wearing black clothes during the event.”

Human Rights Watch has urged the Ethiopian government to allow an international inquiry into the deaths at the 2016 event and has called for restraint to prevent casualties at this year’s festival.

“The security forces disastrous and disproportionate use of force should not be repeated this year,” said Felix Horne, a senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “With longstanding grievances still unanswered, this year’s Irrecha could be fraught with tensions.”

Ethiopia has refused to allow outside independent investigations into last year’s deaths despite repeated calls by the United Nations and rights groups.

The Irrecha festival is an annual thanksgiving event celebrated by ethnic Oromos to mark the end of the rainy season and the start of spring.
Source AP.